Diagnostic repair system and method for computing systems

Abstract

A diagnostic system and method for repairing computing devices comprises a diagnostic application running on a same computing system having a failed operating system (O/S). The diagnostic application is provided with access to the file system of the failed O/S image. The diagnostic software application collects relevant configuration information from the file system of the failed O/S image, and transports this information to a proxy system running the same operating system as the computing device being diagnosed. The proxy system utilizes the collected data to diagnose the subject failed O/S system. Once the proxy makes a determination it synthesizes repair information comprising new or modified files and instructions to be transported back to the diagnostic software system to apply. A network connection is provided between the computer running the diagnostic application and the proxy system that enables data to be easily transported between the two systems without human intervention.

1. A method for diagnosing and repairing a first computing system executing an operating system of a first platform type and subject to a failure diagnosis, said method comprising steps of:
 providing an operating system of a second platform type adapted to be executed on said first computing system upon failure of said operating system of said first platform type; 
 executing an application under said operating system of said second platform type for obtaining diagnostic information pertaining to said failed operating system on said first computing system; 
 providing a second computing system executing the same operating system of said first platform type as said failed operating system executed on said first computing system; 
 communicating said diagnostic information obtained by said application to said second computing system; 
 utilizing said diagnostic information to diagnose the subject failed operating system of said first computing system; and 
 generating repair information at said second computing system and communicating said repair information to the application running on said first computer system to repair the failed operating system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of generating repair information includes generating at least one new file necessary to the repair, and, an instruction for copying said at least one new file back to said first computing system. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of generating repair information includes generating at least one modified file necessary to the repair, and, an instruction for overwriting existing data with modified file data at said first computing system. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of obtaining diagnostic information pertaining to said failed operating system includes reading relevant file system configuration information including at least one from the group comprising: registry files, system files, system settings, error files, error logs, and other system configuration files of said failed operating system. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said step of generating repair information includes the step of providing operating system interfaces for enabling the examination of the diagnostic information to determine problem causes and corrections to said failed operating system on said first computing system. 
     
     
       6. A method for reviving a failed operating system executing on a remote computing system, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a proxy computing system adapted to execute applications under at least one operating system of varying platform types; 
 b) receiving diagnostic information obtained from a diagnostic application executing on said remote computing system having a failed operating system to be revived, said diagnostic information relating to said failed operating system being received at a proxy computing system executing the same operating system platform as said failed operating system platform; 
 c) utilizing said received diagnostic information at said proxy computing system for diagnosing the failed operating system to be revived at said remote computing system; 
 d) generating repair information at said proxy computing system; 
 e) communicating said generated repair information back to said diagnostic application running on said remote computer system having said failed operating system; and, 
 f) utilizing said repair information to enable revival of said failed operating system at said remote computing system. 
 
     
     
       7. The method for reviving a failed operating system as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: executing a second operating system of a second platform type upon failure of a primary operating system; and, executing said diagnostic application at said remote computing system under said second operating system. 
     
     
       8. The method for reviving a failed operating system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said diagnostic information pertaining to said failed operating system comprises relevant file system configuration information including at least one from the group comprising: registry files, system files, system settings, error files, error logs, and other system configuration files of said failed operating system. 
     
     
       9. The method for reviving a failed operating system as claimed in  claim 6 , further wherein said generated repair information comprises: at least one new file necessary to the repair, and, an instruction for copying said at least one new file back to said remote computing system; or, at least one modified file necessary to the repair, and, an instruction for overwriting existing data with said modified file data at said remote computing system. 
     
     
       10. The method for reviving a failed operating system as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of implementing a network communication means for enabling receipt of said diagnostic information from said remote computing system and, for enabling communication of repair information from said proxy computing system to said remote computing system.